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Low amateur Plant secures Silver Medal

Alfie Plant has followed in the footsteps of Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy by winning the Silver Medal awarded to the leading amateur who plays all four rounds at The Open.

The 25-year-old English international, from Bexleyheath, Kent, was the only amateur left standing when he carded a second round 73 to make it to the weekend on four over par. Two days later he confirmed medallist honours when he putted out for another 73 in front of the packed grandstands surrounding the 18th green.

Plant plans to turn professional after the US Amateur and the Walker Cup but not before he has taken some time out to reflect on a month that started with the death of his great grandmother but subsequently ended with success, first at the European Amateur Championship, and then on the greatest stage of all at Royal Birkdale. The former got him into The Open, the latter brought him and the massed ranks of his “Alfie’s Army” to a worldwide stage.

“The last four days has been absolutely amazing,” said Plant. “The high of the week has definitely got to be walking down the last. I think every golfer says that. It is always said that it's one of the best walks in golf and it certainly is, I can tell you. It’s something I will never forget.

“I think it's going to take a good week for it all to sink in. I think it will a bit at the presentation ceremony, but it won’t be until I get home that I will be able to take it all in.

“It has been very emotional,” he added. “Nan's and grandparents are always on your mind when you lose them. I tried not to think about it too much but it’s difficult.

“I’ve got to go to Nan’s funeral on Tuesday and that’s not going to be nice. If you think about it too much, you're going to start crying out there. I tried to put it to the back of my mind, as best as possible. But, every time I looked at my bag (and the Do It For Nan hashtag on it), I got a gentle reminder. She was definitely with me this week.

On a lighter note, asked what he might have done with the prize money he would have won had he been a professional he laughed and pled poverty: “If you ask my girlfriend, she'd definitely say a ring, but I don't know, I really don’t, unless she wants a Haribo ring."